He had her, and he always will. He knew this from the first day in the academy. The way she would squeal in excitement with every test he passed or every opponent he defeated, she was always there, always yearning to become closer to him. He saw this as a nuisance, the proverbial fly buzzing in his ear that demanded his attention. She was useless as a genin, anyone could have told you that. Chakra control was about her only upside, with her obsession with every breath he breathed being the blatant deal breaker. He could never accept her offer to join him on his quest for vengeance. She would just get in the way, still he saw potential in her, but her motivation was completely opposite to that of his, she is a lover, he is a hater. He decided he would teach her to hate.
He had her and he always will. He had her exactly where he wanted her, unconcious on a park bench. By the time she wakes he will be long gone. His genius plan to teach her how to hate. He never knew that upon seeing her the next time she would show no signs of hate, just the opposite actually. He had been so enveloped in his hatred he forgot the warmth of her love and admiration. He longed to take her with him, his last glimpse of life outside of hatred. His hatred would never allow him to accept her, not yet at least, she was not ready.
He had her and he always will. He knew she would come for him, it was only a matter of time. He could sense the kunai behind her back, he still felt it through the killing intent, the warmth he had grown so fond of. He often dreamt of it, holding her in his arms, kissing her as the sun would set behind the mountains. For an avenger he truly was a hopeless romantic. He nearly killed her, what a damper that would have been on the plan. He truly wanted her, he still needed to give her more time, she still hadn't earned that special place in his heart, but something told him it would not be much longer.
He had her and he always will. He stood dumbfounded at what lay just in front of his gaze, Sakura left the village to hunt him down in hopes of joining him and helping him achieve vengeance. It truly was a relief. He would not have to go through the trouble of finding her himself, for truly he had grown very fond of her, even to the point of envisioning starting a life with the pinkette. Having children, growing old, dying peacefully in their sleep holding hands, she truly was the only one keeping him grounded to the life he had back home, the life beyond this hatred. She told him she loved him, he for the first time in his life acknowledged her and confessed the love he had in his heart. Sakura could not move from the shock of the confession, which worked perfectly to Sasuke's advantage. He plunged a Chidori through her chest and smiled as her lifeless body plummeted to the ground. How else was he achieve the Mangakeyo Sharingan? Now he has it, and he always will.